Drum Teacher Reacts: BEN KOLLER | Converge | 'Thaw' | Drum Cam Live 2016

[@andrewbarrett6403]

Thanks for playing my request.. there’s not a ton of professionally shot footage of Ben playing, but there is a pretty cool video of him playing an e-kit where they made a sample library from his actual kit kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGnSlIdsfJqMmas there’s also a video on Jay Weinberg’s page of Jay covering a Converge song.

[@joshuapocalypse]

He goes live often on his IG

[@mushroomcloud222]

My fave story about Converge is that in a Czech newspaper, one reporter was a big fan and got to do an interview with the singer when they played Prague, and that within the next week, essentially everyone working in the newspaper office came to ask the guy for a CD to borrow as the lead vocalist's intelligent and articulate responses to all interview questions got them curious...

[@dokken63]

do you have the link by any chance ?

[@mushroomcloud222]

@@dokken63 unfortunately no, it was in a printed magazine or newspaper and many years ago.

[@hairychris444]

They played hundreds of gigs a year for years & years. Just ridiculously tight live.

[@TheSackblabbath]

Ben Koller is special. I am delighted you gave him a listen. Thank you.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks for listening! 🙏

[@Aephidd]

Ben is easily one of the most creative drummers I have heard, in the space, and in general. His phrasing is something to be admired, and I think someone like Mr. Rooney here would appreciate his comedic chops as well. His stuff with two minutes to late night is great.

[@jonhowardtube]

This really satisfies the part of me that introduces converge to people.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

This is killer

[@Lostsage01]

“Hey hey what is up Andrew, it is KZbin here again…” 😂 0:02

[@rippindrummer666]

Yes!!! Ben is one of my favorite metal drummers of all time! Black cloud by converge is def one of his craziest drum tracks! You should also do Danny Walker playing above live with intronaut!! He’s another great metal drummer

[@chillhopdrumz1862]

Black Cloud is one of my favs

[@Wendelvendel]

Not many people cover converge as drum reactions. Have been a fan of the band forever and carried them with me out of my teens and through my 20s to now. Wonderful band!

[@EastlosNinjA]

They’re up there /for me/ with The Locust and Number 12 . As far as drummers. Also Thomas Pridgen. Your faves ?

[@Stickers96]

I have been listening to Converge for over 20 years now. Watching your reaction to this was just awesome. Love your positivity.

[@stefansommer3579]

Man, I still remember the first time I heard Converge, their album Axe To Fall had just come out, and I heard Dark Horse, and I was just sold. Their use of odd times, while still keeping it so sludgy and hardcore just had me mesmerized, and Bens drumming is absolutely out of this world. You see a lot of extreme drummers these days just barely tapping the drums, but Ben just absolutely beats the living shit out of the drums, and at such speeds as well. Insane stuff really.

[@xpatzorsx]

YESSSS!!!!! YES!!!! FINALLY!!! I've been waiting for Andrew to come across converge. It's insane that more drum channels don't do reactions to their songs.

[@ghostrobot3714]

If you want to see more of Ben's playing, his stuff on 'Two Minutes to Late Night' (in the 'house' band Mutoid Man, check out that channel!) always delivers. As far as Converge is concerned, the first 3 tracks off of 'Jane Doe' made me a fan.

[@CrrackTheSkye]

Ah man Converge is so awesome. One of the best live shows I've ever seen.

[@Kylesmellsus]

I didn't even like this band the first time I listened to them. I was heavily into non-stop blast beats and fills back then, but eventually I came around and I'm glad I did. This song is from their best album imo. Timeless classic!

[@descantinginsalubrious]

"Musical" is an apt description. A lot of thought and consideration went into his choices.

[@pillarhood471]

That remark of his really made me happy

[@oggbert32]

They opened for Neurosis. At one point in the video Ben hits a cymbal on the kit behind him! Such an awesome drummer!

[@InnoMori]

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see neurosis live before the break up. Even though I’ve been a massive fan for years..

[@MrTelorix]

Holy shit Neurosis and Converge at the same show thats an incredible line up

[@adriancole9681]

There’s some great videos of this dude playing from the perspective of a GoPro strapped to his chest. Really awesome and frantic from that angle.

[@pillarhood471]

YES! Yes! Yesssssss!!!!!! First it was the Black Sabbath. Then High On Fire - now Converge?!?!? ANDREW, ARE YOU READING MY DREAM JOURNAL?!?! Seriously though, Ben is such an absolute monster. Insane energy AND creativity, power, groove, passion - the complete package. Go see him live - huge smile, having the time of his life, kicking the hi hats for an accent (or headbutting them) - incredible.

[@AlldayAudio]

checking out ben with one of his other bands, mutoid man, is completely worth it

[@AlldayAudio]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g57JmKumf8iaa8U

[@ricolync]

Kiss of Death... tasty kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2Oyc6pjgc2BqtE

[@pillarhood471]

100%

[@chadjohnson5577]

Yes love watching 2 minutes to late night with mutiod man. I saw that Jeff matz from high on fire is playing bass with them on the tour going on now. 🤘❤

[@AlldayAudio]

@@chadjohnson5577 yeah he is. the previous bassist is an acquaintance of mine, so the news kinda sucked when i heard it, but Jeff is solid and totally slaying on tour. cant wait to hear new material.

[@lolh4x]

Converge is one of the most abrasive bands ever, but they've gotten me through some of the darkest parts of my life. Amazing band, and Ben is a great guy

[@Wendelvendel]

Thanks so much for doing some converge! So happy to see this!

[@mostlymotiongraphics2134]

They've been playing this for over twenty years. It's timeless. I will probably still be listening to this in 2043

[@bennyjones2373]

There used to be the go pro vids ben made on tour of songs like dark horse and concubine where the camera is strapped to his chest and you get the drummers eye view of the songs, so much fun to watch

[@jleighwolfe]

Absolutely love converge. Def check out the studio recording

[@ghettostreamlabs5724]

Honestly, raw phone audio can be very telling especially when its a few feet away from the kit. It's like hearing your dynamics through an isolated overhead mic.

[@TheKustomBeardoh]

Hell yeah! Was waiting for Ben to come up on your channel. I knew you’d be into him. You definitely need to check out Converge. All of it is good!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I'll check out more Derek!

[@Fatsatan]

Yeah Ben Koller is a badass! Unfortunately never got to see them live before i broke my back. I love them and Cave In alot

[@meatsloth333]

I saw them live in the early 2000s. They opened with their song Concubine. Literally 3000 people started punching and kicking each other immediately haha. Highly recommend that song or saddest day by them.

[@jospehbloseph7172]

I had a hard time getting into these guys, then they did an album with Chelsea Wolfe that was moody and dark and I was able to go backwards into older Converge. They were my first exposure to the chaotic structure of early math metal and I didn’t know how to listen to them. Now I do and this was a fantastic review of a video I’ve never seen. Thanks for another awesome learning experience

[@joshuapocalypse]

From Jane Doe, released 2001.

[@chadjohnson5577]

Andrew holy cow Converge! I'm glad you're coming to the darker side of drummers. Love Converge ❤ Love the sabbath and high on fire , my 2 favorite bands. And now you're doing Converge. Killer drums!❤ Thanks buddy.🤘👍👍

[@threeamigos6398]

i see you reacting to Ben Koller and instantly click like before the adverts have finished!

[@robertleeimages]

Not related to this vid but have you seen the latest Sugarfoot on drumeo doing Billie Jean, if not i reckon you'll like the ending solo

[@Nemo71340]

Ben is an awesome dude too! hes such a nice guy i you meet him in real life

[@bobsondugnutt7526]

Converge is a rock solid band. Amazing stuff

[@Wendelvendel]

A shame this vid hasnt gotten mpre views because ive come back to just because i love converge and i love seeong Andrew giving them some shine.

[@bannanafruitsalad]

Ben koller and Kurt Ballou(the guitarist/composer) are in my opinion, two of the best musicians in modern music

[@ChoobsX]

Thaw is such a great tack, the slower section at the end is somehow more intense than then faster opening section! Might as well stick around for the title track Jane Doe afterwards, life changing album.

[@musiconyourowntermspodcast6128]

Ben is a monster. I loooove Mutoid Man, but I have only seen him play with Converge live.

[@petemccool6084]

I enjoy watching your reactions videos but I never thought I’d see Ben of Converge on. Thanks for bringing on bad ass drummers who might not be Main Stream in most peoples eyes. Converge is upper shelf in my opinion of hardcore US bands

[@HolterDipolter-s8b]

Benn Koller is Killer. Not only in Converge, but also in Converge`s Bloodmoon, Mutoid Man, where he is somtimes a kind of comedian, Killer be Killed....

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

This is fantastic

[@Silentghos]

Yes been waiting for This such a good drummer and mega band ❤️❤️❤️

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Love it!

[@DallasGunther]

This is from the album "Jane Doe". A sprawling journey from beginning to end and in my opinion an absolute masterpiece.

[@scottangel194]

Ben also plays for another band called Mutoid Man, check out a song called Friday 13/8

[@koryjacques5811]

I'd love to hear more breakdown of timing in these pieces. Cool video. Psyched to see a nice react to this piece

[@musiconyourowntermspodcast6128]

Check out Ben playing with Mutoid Man as the house band on 2 minutes to late night. Lot of cool fills, covers and generally all over the place.

[@XViTNg]

Oh shit. Converge! Yes! I hope you cover some more hardcore bands. Converge is like a national treasure in the hardcore community. Been making great records since 97. But then Jane doe came out in 01 and bumped them to another level - and the two albums after this album were unbelievably good. And they still make great music. One of my fav bands of all time. I wish they had some better drum cam videos. But follow converge into this rabbit hole and I think you’ll love what you find.

[@BenedettoM]

Memories of what will likely remain my all-time favorite weekend of live shows. Converge was direct support to Neurosis on the third and final night of their 30th anniversary weekend of shows in San Francisco, CA. I spent most of the night either in the photo pit down in front or off to the side. I've seen Converge eight times at this point and Ben's drumming is always a highlight. Jason Roeder, the drummer of Neurosis, is another I'd love to see you react to and hear your thoughts on. Jason also has a KZbin channel- www.youtube.com/@jason_roeder with some of his drum-cam footage from over the years and a personal favorite of mine is of the Neurosis song, The Doorway - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKSnqXZ5drllp5I

[@DallasGunther]

The Jane Doe album is a masterpiece. Emotionally very taxing but a masterpiece none the less.

[@eujonathan]

Finally. Ben is a monster. Please check it out some Grizzly Bear vids. The drummer, Chris Bear, is fantastic.

[@amyhainsworth3739]

Converge is a band best consumed live. So hard to listen to through a screen when you’ve seen them in person.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I bet Amy!

[@johnnyblacklung9393]

Looks like from the set up that was the neurois tour

[@cairney0037]

was there a grove in there lol have a great day he went a bit buddy rich but metal lol

[@lungfulldrummer8921]

Have you checked out the Tommy Aldridge play throughs drumeo posted recently? They're absolutely killer.

[@thomasgillitschka472]

Jane doe that Album is crazy

[@paulburke9198]

YEP ! Kerayzy alright , usually if I see what looks like a crappy phone vid I will skip it but , well good drumz iz good drums and that as you said is Killer kinda glad we couldn't hear the rest of the band , would have been in the way (I think ,) .

[@resistdespair1977]

Check out Dark Horse

[@adrienfaunce]

nice one!

[@LukeStebner]

Ben is an awesome drummer to watch, I'm glad he finally popped up on your radar! He has some gopro chest cam videos on his channel that I think showcase his insane speed really well. Here's one for example - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4WXmoeshp2Ni8k

[@Ampthrill]

You should do vein! Really good drum cam video on KZbin .

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I'll check it out! 👌

[@Ampthrill]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums the best video is "[hate5six-drum cam] Vein Fm TIHC 2018" 🤍

[@Ampthrill]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums first couple songs are nuts

[@donnelson6694]

Converge are definitely not my thing but it was quite interesting to watch Ben deliver the goods on this one.

[@therealjoshcollier561]

React to Matt halpern Dracula gras drum playthrough please

[@reynaldiyovan]

React David Diepold again please 🎉😊

[@scotte2815]

Alex Duthart ALEX DUTHART seriously, react/review Alex Duthart and if you have to ask . . . . don't! just quietly look him up and realize that he was considered by Buddy Rich to have greater natural rhythm.